Convertible furniture



July 20 1926. 3.1

H. JOHNSON COWBRTIBLE FURNITURE I Filed August 26. 1 9 2 Sheets-Shut 1 Patented July 20, 1926.

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HARRISON JOHNSON, or MouNr CLEMENS, MICHIGAN.

CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE.

Appiieaum filed Airgun 26, 1924. Serial No. 734,298.

This invention relatesto improvements in furniture, and more particularly to an article of furniture which may be employed for different purposes.

An important object of the invention is to provide a combined bookcase, dresser, chifl'onier', and table which may be readily folded for traveling purposes.

A further obj'ect of the invention is the provision of an article ofthis character which when folded and secured presents the apearanc'e of an ordinary traveling trunk.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an article of this character which may be readily converted for different uses when desirable.

Other objects and advantages of this in vention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved device showing the parts in an open position,

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing my device in a closed position, and

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through the device in. the closed position, the dotted lines indicating the position assumed by the parts when in the open position.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 generally indicates the body of my improved device, this body being in the general form of a trunk. The top section of the body 5 is preferably of thicker construction than the side walls and bottom, the central portion thereof being provided with a rectangular recess 7. This recess is preferably covered with a padding of soft material 8 provided for the purpose of cushioning a mirror to be placed thereon. The end walls 9 of the body are provided with inwardly extending containers 10, these containers comprising top and bottom members and a supporting wall, adapted to enclose a box like casing 1.1 hingedly connected to the rear portion of the body and forming a book case. The casing 11 may be readily swung about its hinges and in the closed position swings inwardly against the container 11 retaining the back or closed side of thecasing' 11 flush with the end walls 9, The horizontal partition 12 is mounted within the body 5 below the top 6, this partition being adapted to support a sliding board 18 which slides through a suitable recess formed in the front of the body 5. The lower portion of the body front is provided with a rectangular recess 14- adapted to permit the insertion of a drawer 15, this drawer being adapted to slide through the opening 14 and rest upon the bottom of the body. The front portion of the drawer 15 is provided with a pair of swinging handles 16 adapted to permit the drawer to be readily withdrawn from the I body.

The upper portion of the body 5 carries a mirror 17 which may be composed of a plurality of sections and is hingedly connected to the rear portion of the recess 7 formed in the top of the body. As shown in Figure 1, in the open position the mirror may be raised in a vertical plane. When the device is folded for traveling the mirror is turned downwardly and fitted within the recess 7 0 formed in the top 6, resting upon the padding 8 to prevent destruction of the same.

In order to tightly inclose the device when traveling, the top 6 of the body is provided Q, wlth a preferably rigid cover 18 which 1s hingedly connected along the rear edge of the body and foldable over the top. The front side of the body 5 is also provided with a cover member 19, this cover being hingedly connected to the body along the lower front edge and adapted to inclose the front side of the body. Similar cover members 20 are hingedly connected to the lower edges of the end walls and adapted to enclose the same. These covers carry a plurality of strap members 21 and buckles 22 adapted to securely fasten the corners in position upon the body 5. As it is desirable to protect the corners of the device in the closed position, I provide a plurality of corner pads 23, these pads carrying a plurality of projecting straps 24: provided with snaps, adapted to engage suitable projections formed upon the cover members. These corner pads may obviously be quickly secured upon the device when the same is enclosed and in condition for transporting, and may likewise be disconnected when the device is to be opened.

When using the device as an article of furniture the casings 11 are adapted to contain books or the like and may be readily swung open when it is desired to gain access thereto. When it is desired to employ the device as a c resser, the mirror 17 is swung upwardly to the vertical position and retained up by moving the end mirror in angular position. When it is desired to employ the device as a desk, a table board 13 is withdrawn from the body as shown at Figure 1, forming a convenient and efficient desk top.

One of the outstanding features of the invention is the ease and rapidity with which the device may be folded and securely fastened, the cover boards being swung upon their hinges and ti htly secured by means of the strap members mounted thereon. The device is particularly intended for use by traveling salesmen and the like who find it necessary to pack and move their belongings upon very little notice.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred example of the same, and that various changes as to the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

An article of furniture comprising a body having a recess formed in its top wall, a cover hingedly connected with the body and arranged to swing over the recess, a mirror composed of sectionshingedly connected together and the intermediate mirror section hingedly connected with the top wall of the body at the edge of the recess, the mirror sections being so arranged that they spread in the form of a plane to be received within the recess and the mirror sections may be swung out of the recess and the terminal mirror sections swung with relation to the intermediate mirror section so that the lower edges of the terminal mirror sections are in contact with the bottom wall of the recess to hold the reflecting surfaces of the mirror structures above the upper surface of the top wall of the body.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

HARRISON JOHNSON. 

